Fire-extinguishing apparatus



Nov. 24, 1925- 0. R. ERWIN FIRE EXTINGUI SHING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 20, 1920 Snow/tom OrlandolZErwz'n,

Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

UNETED STATES 1,562,949 rarest orrics.

ORLANDO R. ERWIN, OF FOREST HILLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T FOAMITE-CHILDS CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N Y., A CORPORATION 015 DELAVTARE.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

Application filed December 20, 1920, Serial No. 431,923.

1 0 all whom it may cmzccr'n Be it known that I, ORLANDO R. ERWIN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Forest Hills, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Extinguishing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a fire extinguishing apparatus, and more'particularly to ca fire extinguishing apparatus of the foam producing type, and has special reference to the provision of an apparatus of this type designed so as to be capable of being set into operation to generate foam and develop sufficient pressure to deliver the foam to relatively high elevations as is required for example for oil tank protection.

A principal object of my present invention comprehends the provision of a foam producing fire extinguishing apparatus embodying a self-contamed unit having a simple organization of parts especially suited and readily installable for protecting isolated regions at low cost. For isolated regions such as segregated oil tanks, the cost of installing and operating a fire extinguishing system in which a pumping means or the like is utilized for effecting the delivery of the foam to the top of the oil tank is at times out of proportion to the risk and the value of the property to be protected, and the advantages for such locations of a foam producing system which is operable without auxiliary pressure means such as a pumping system and which is capable of developing sufficient pressure to deliver the foam to high elevations are apparent.

To accomplish the desired object, my present invention comprehends more specifically the provision of an apparatus in which the chemical components for producing the foam are brought into commiXing relationship in a manner such as to produce a turbulent or a more or less violent intermixture of the components, this so as to create or generate a maximum quantity of foam of the desired pressure. More particularly, in my present invention an acid tank is provided, and mounted at a level substantially below a basic tank with a connecting line therebetween, the connecting line being so constructed that the basic solution contained in the basic tank is adapted in time of fire to be fed into the acid component contained in the acid tank Renewed November 23, 1923.

with a. jet velocity and in a manner to effect the turbulent intermiXt-ure of the components; the present invention relating more particularly to improvements in the fire ex? tinguishing apparatus shown in the patent granted to James B. Erwin and myself, No. 1,128,768 of Feb. 16, 1915.

I have found that where the foam is to be delivered to relatively high levels, it is very desirable that the intermixture of the chemical components should be effected in an agitated manner, and in a manner so as to bring a large portion of the components into reaction at the same time. More specifically, I have found that in order to pro duce the agitated or turbulent commixture, the basic component solution should be bodily introduced into the acid component with a substantial velocity and preferably at a plurality of points, as distinguished from a gentle introduction of the basic solution on the surface of the heavier acid component, the degree of velocity being predetermined to be sufiicient to compensate for the difference in specific gravities of the two components and to effect an intimate commixture of the same.

Still further and principal objects of the invention are the provision of an apparatus of the type above referred to in which the parts are co-ordinated to produce a non-freezing system; the provision of a system of this nature which is adapted to be set into operation automatically by the occurrence of a fire and manually by means remote from the fire; and the still further provision of such a system in which the means for automatically and manually operating the'system are suitably housed or encased.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the ele ments and "their relation one to the other, as hereinafter particularly described and sought to be defined in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which shows a preferred embodiment of my invention and in which:

The figure is a side elevational view of my apparatus showing its attachment to an oil tank, with parts shown in section to disclose the interior construct-ion of the apparatus.

As heretofore mentioned, a prime desideratum of the invention relates to the provision of a fire extinguishing unit in which a basic component solution is fed'into an acid component in a manner to effect an agitated in'termixture of the components to produce an efficient foam compound ca pable of rising to high levels. To accomplish this the invention includes the provision of a basic tank 5 adapted for the reception of the B or basic component solution having a composition, for example, as disclosed in the patent to alker-No.11,186,248, otUJune 6, 1916, the said tank being mounted at a. region elevated relatively to. an acid c011- tainer 6, the tankbei-ng connected :to theconntainer by means of a.solution line 7 which is normally :closed and Which is adapted to,

be opened in time of' fire for. permitting the basic solution to. feed through the solu tion line. and into the-acld' container 6.

The solution line 7 is preferably provided with perforated endpipe sections 8 and 9 respectively, asccond perforated pipe section lObeing also provided for a purpose to appear: hereinafter, the section 10 communicating Withfthe solution line 7 by means of a bypass :11. The perforated pipe end 9 extends into the, acidcontainer 6, as is :clearly SllOWlLlll the drawingathe perforations or orifices in the pipe section 9 being intended'and provided'tor imparting to the basic solution feeding into the acid container a jet'velocity tori effecting the desired turbulent. intermixture, the, per.- iioratedend section 9 being extended into the acid containeriso-as to produce a bodily agitation otthe acid component to aid in eil'ecting the desired commixture. As a furthertactor in producing the desired component inter-mixture, the acidcontaineris spaced from the basic tankso as to providea substantial gravity head therebetween, and,

where, as will hereiterred to hereinafter, the basic tank interred to provldenfor anonfr'eezing apparatus, the jet introduction of;

the basic component into the acid component permits of decreasing the distance or gravity head between the acid 1 and basic tanks, this enabling the tanks .to be buried at a depth less than would otherwise the necessitated.

The container 6 is mountednear thebottom of the pit 12 and within a mixing chamber 13 located at thebottom .ot the pit, the a mixing chamber 13 =CO111111-l1111021t111gi'Wl'tll:

a foam conducting means-such as ariser pipe 1% extending upwardly and ternnnat-.

ing at its upper end iira foanrdelivery mouth 15 attached preferably to. the root of an oil tank 16, the mouth-15 opening into the tank and above the maximum 011 level with the oil ank, itis' to be understood that a plurality of such systems may be provided with a single oil tank, it being pre ferred to provide two or four such systems arranged in spaced relation circumferentially oi the 011 tank.

For normally closing the solution line 7,

the pipe sections Sand 10 are-provided-with 'discharginginto the 'oil tank through the, foam delivery month.

For the; purpose. of equalizing the pressureon the basic solution .in the basic tank 5, I prefer to providean equalizing pipe section 17 connecting llllflg iiiQflHl llSGl' let with thebasictankb, as is clearly shown inthe drawings, thisv equalizing pipe-pertorming the. further tunctiorrott' housinga part of the control means for thesystem, as will become clearer hereinafter.

The valve constructions nsed inthe pipe sections 8 and it-may be any known to the art. The pipe sectionsS: and -10 -may be providez'fwithl any suitable valveconstructions openable in time-offire to permit the basic solution to flowinto the-solution line. It has been found, however, that the ordinary valves-used in thistype otsystema-re o't't-tiines ditiicult to move, especially inlarge supply, systems, this being many times the case after a; long; period; of inactivity of the device, thevalves being corrodible, due to the corrosive-effect of the chemicalsolutions used. To overcome this detect, my. invention contemplates the provision of a: non-corrodible valve structure in. the solution line, ;the valve. being made of fragile material and adapted to be broken in .timeottire to permitsolution commixtime, this type oi valve yielding a certainty of operationof thetdcvicepin emergency events. To thisend Lhave provided a rupturable dis r structure shown diagrammatically at 18 andlt); said structure comprising a sealed glass; disk shownand described, for example, in my co-pend- 'ing application, Serial Number {131,921, .filedDecember 2O, 1920,-the disk-18-being arranged bctween thetpipe section 10 and the by-pass 11. and the disk 19 being a1 ranged between the pipe section :8 and the solution line 7] The said disks normally prevent. entry of the basic solution into the. solntionlines and either or, both of the disks are adapted 1 to. be broken in: time otdireto permit entry otthe solution through the solution line. and into the vat 6 1 for the necessary solution commix- .ture.

Means is provided for automaticallysetting the-device in operation in theevent of fire, such means in thepresent form .ofmy invention con'iprising, for example, a

Jan

plunger 20 having at its bottom end a weighted breaker (not shown) and being vertically movable in a spider structure 21 fitted to the tank 5; the said plunger being provided with a head 22 adapted to be struck by a weighted member in the form of, for example, a ball 23, the plunger 22 being normally held in its upward position by means of a spring Ql encircling a portion of the plunger 20. To the weighted ball 2%; is connected a counter-weight 27 by means of a control line comprising preferably a chain or a cord such as a bronze cord 25 provided with a plurality of fusible links 28, the cord being trained over a series of pulleys 2G and through the equalizing pipe 12' and part of the foam riser 1 these parts forming a suitable protectire casing or housing for the control line to maintain the same against accidental operation and damage. In the event of a fire in the oil tank, the links will be fused, as is obvious, breaking the cord or chain 25, permitting the weighted ball 23 to drop on the plunger head 22, impelling the plunger 20 downwardly for the breaking of the glass seal disk structure19 to permit the basic solution flow for commixture and foam generation.

In the event of failure or inertia of operation of the automatic means described, and for the purpose of further insuring the operability of the device as a whole, means is provided adapted to be manually operated for setting the deviceinto action. To this end I have provided the second glass seal disk structure 18 which is adapted to be broken in time of fire by means preferably of a second plunger 29, vertically movable in spider SO and being otherwise similar in structure to plun 'er 20; the said plunger 29 being adapted to be downwardly impelled by the falling of weighted member 31 which is connected to a cord or chain 32, guided preferably through pipe sections 33 and terminating in an eye 3% adapted to be received by a hook S5 mounted in a fire proof box 36. In the event of fire the box is opened, the eye disengaged from its hook and the cord released, pern'iitting the weight 30 to drop and actuate plunger 29 for the breaking of the glass seal disk 18.

For the purpose of making the apparatus weather proof and eliminating the disadvantage incident to this type of apparatus of being affected by cold weather, the parts are so arranged and means is provided to secure a non-freezing fire extinguishing sys tem. To this end the basic solution and the basic tank 5 are interred, 87 representing the ground line the excavated earth being thrown on the tank forming, for example, a mound 38. The acid vat 6 be ing mounted within the mixing chamber 13 and at the bottom of pit 12, is not openly subject to the elements, but to further insure against the non-freezing of the acid in the vat, such acid may consist, for example, of a 58 Baum solution of sulphuric acid, such a strength solution having the characteristic of this arrangement an apparatus is provided which is substantially weather proof, yielding a device which in this respect is certain of operation.

For the purpose of obtaining convenient access to the parts of the apparatus, a manhead 89 may be provided in the basic tank, and the mixing chamber 13 may also be provided with a manhead- 40, forming part of the mixing chamber, a permanent ladder 41 being arranged in the pit 12.

The operation of my device will be apparent from the above description thereof. In the event of fire, the glass seal disk 18 or 19 is broken either manually or automatically to permit solution intercommunication be- I tween the tank and the vat, and solution commixture in the mixing chamber for the production of a fire extinguishing foam, which moves up the riser pipe 14, due to a number of causes, among which are the pressure of the generated foam, the gravity head of the basic solution, and the foam pressure exerted on the solution level in the basic tank by reason of the conduction of foam from the riser through the equal izing pipe 17 and into the top of the basic tank. The foam moves up the riser pipe and discharges through the foam delivery mouth 15 and into the oil tank, quickly spreading on the top of the burning oil, rapidly extinguishing the same.

From the above it will be apparent that I have provided a fire fighting unit especial ly adaptable for oil fields, but which may obviously be used in other locations, and in which the p arts are arranged in a simple manner, the parts being so constructed and means being provided whereby an efiicient commixture of the components is obtained to effect the delivery of foam to substantial elevations and whereby a high degree of certainty of operation is obtained, thus yielding a maximum of fire protection for oil fields or the like.

While I have shown my device in the preferred form, it will be obvious that many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fire extinguishing apparatus in which component solutions are adapted to be separately stored and to be commixed in the event of fire to produce a fire extinguishing foam, a mixing chamber, a tank holding an acid solution located in said mixing non-freezability. With chamber, a tank holding abasic "solution 10 catediabovesaid acid solutiontank, a duct:

connecting the said. tanks lopena-ble in time of fire to perinitithe' basic solution to feed into the acidtank to commix with the acid:- therein to produce the fire extinguishing foam-in said mixing chamber, and equalize in g n'ieans connecting :themixing ch amber and; the second mentioned tank.

' 2. A fire extinguishing apparatus in which component solutions are adapted to be'separately stored and to be. commixed. in the QVBD'CxOff fire to produce afire extinguishing foam, 7 a mixing chamber, a foam, delivery means connected thereto-including a riser,

opening into an oil tank, a tank holdingcan acid solution'ilocated-;1n said mixing chamber, a tank holding a basicsolution mounted above the acid tank, a duct connectingithe said tanks openable in time of fire to per mit solution intercominunication between the tanks and solution coininixture to produce, theilfireextinguishing foam inasaid mixing chamber, and an equalizing v pipe connecting-the mixing chamber and the second imentioned tank,

3. A non-freezing, fire extinguishing apparatus comprising; an :interred tank holdingv a basic solution, a mixing chamber arranged below the said-basictank having a tank therein holding, anon-freezing acid solution, and provisions for COlllHllXlDg the acid and the basic solutions in time otfire to generate a fire extinguishingtoam.

4. Iii-apparatus of the class described,

means to deliver a fire extinguishingfoanr to a tanker the like, comprisinga mixing; chamber below the level of the tankna-nd,

to a tank or the like, comprising a mixing chamber below the level of the tank andprovided with a riser for delivering-foam. thereto a holdm means within the lnlXllll'J' chamber-for one of two solutions capablezot forming the foam when mixed a holding means for the other o'fthe said-solutions at a distance from the chamber and at a higher level and delivering to the holding ineansiu V the mixing chamber laterally throughout the depth thereof.

6: In apparatus of the class described, means to deliver a fire'extinguishing foam toa tank or the like, comprising a'inixing chamber below the levelot' the tank and provided'with a riser fordelivering "foam thereto, a holding means within the mixing forming. thef0a1nwhe1rmixed, a holding -meansiforlthe other of the: saidlsolutions at a distance from thei'chamberz and at ahigher level and ,deliveringto the holding means in the mixingchamber, means to normally restrain ;the flow from. thelast named holding means to, :the mixing; chamber, and temperature controlled means for] releasing the restrainingmeans.

7. In a fire extinguishingapparatus in which componentsolutionsare, adapted to be separatelyistorednand to be commixed in the. event of firerto produceafireextinguishing foam, :1. basictank for. holding albasic component solutio.n, an aciditank for holding; an acid componentsolution vlocated a distance substantiallv below the. basic tank to provide a substantial gravity head. therebetween. and :ainormally closed. solution. line connecting the said, tanks having an end extending into/.thei acid tank, the said end being provided with. oneor more jet producing i orifices, thesaidsolution line being openable initimeof fire for conductingtheibasic component into the'acid component withiaconsiderable jet velocity.due-combinedly to the substantiatgravity, head. and the jet producing orifices whereby a turbulent foam producinggcommixture is efiected.

8. In a fire extinguishing, apparatus in whichcoinponent solutions are adapted to be separatelystored andfto be cominixed in the event of fireto produce afire extinguishingtoain, aniinterred: basictank for holding a basic component solution, an acid tank for holdingla non-freezing acid component solu tionlocated belowthe-basic tank, a normally closedsolutioncline connecting the said tanks and.:having an-end extending into the acid tank, the said end being provided with a plurality of jet" v producing orifices, the. said solution .line beingopenablc in..tinie of'fire' for vconducting the basic component into the acid component with a considerable jet velocity due to the jet producing orifices .for producing a turbu lent, foam producing. coininixture, and a foam riser forconducting the foam so produced to a. delivery point.

9 In. a= fire extinguishing, apparatus in which component solutions are adapted to be separately stored and to be commixed in the event of fire to produce a fire extinguish ing foam, a basic tanlcfor holding a basic component solution, an acid tank for lioldingyan acid component solution lo catedbelow .the basic tank, a normally closed solution line connecting the said tanksand -mechanism= automatically operable on the occurrence of a fire for sing, acOntrol line-,--vmeansfor conducting the foam produced by the solution commixchamber-fora;one oftwosoluti'onsrcapable of i tnre to a delivery point, and an equalizing pipe connecting the conducting means with the basic tank, the said equalizing pipe and conducting means providing a housing or casing for the said control line.

10. In a fire extinguishing apparatus in which component solutions are adapted to be separately stored and to be commixed in the event of fire to produce a fire extinguishing foam, a basic tank for holding a basic component solution, an acid tank for holding an acid con'iponent solution located below the basic tank and a normally closed solution line connecting the tanks having an end ex tending into the acid tank, the said end being provided with one or more jet-pr0ducing orifices, the said solution line being openable in time of fire for conducting the basic component into the acid component with a substantial jet velocity whereby a turbulent foam producingcommixture is effected.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State 01 New York, this 17 th day of December, A. D. 1920.

ORLANDO R. ERWVIN. 

